Big day tomorrow

 Westbury Stud Facebook

"Trio of Reliable Man Fillies to Tackle Desert Gold
18 Jan 2019

Reliable Man will have three fillies to represent him in the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes at Wellington on Saturday with Sentimental Miss, Schist, and Sure Bet down to contest the time honoured event.

Go Racing’s Sentimental Miss was Group placed in the Wellington Stakes at Otaki back in November when a luckless third behind the colts Crown Prosecutor and Swords Drawn, while the Lisa Latta-trained charge was last seen out when finishing fifth to the impressive Queen of Diamonds in the Eulogy Stakes Gr.3, running her last 600m in 33.65 seconds. Leading hoop Jason Waddell has been engaged for the ride at Trentham.

The second of the Reliable Man fillies engaged in tomorrow’s feature is the Allan Sharrock trained Schist who races for the Stanley family. Schist was a warm favourite on debut at Hastings but met a wet track and finished a brave fourth. A $95,000 yearling at Karaka, the grand-daughter of NZ Oaks winner Tartan Tights has always shown well above average ability and while taking on Group 3 company at just her third start the combination of Sharrock and jockey Johnathan Parkes should always be respected.

The third Reliable Man filly is Team Rogerson-trained Sure Bet who created an enormous impression when coming from last to win at Tauranga back on the 1 August and went for a spell after competing in the $100,000 Platinum Homes Taranaki Challenge. Sure Bet has trialled twice to ready herself for a new campaign with a long term view being the black type races for staying fillies as we get deeper into the season.

Reliable Man will also have a strong chance in the Group 1 Thorndon Mile on Saturday when Belle du Nord returns to Trentham. The four-year-old mare won the Group 2 Cal Isuzu at Te Rapa last month and has a sound record at Wellington having had three starts on the track for an impressive win as a two-year-old, and then going down narrowly in last year’s Levin Classic Gr.1. when second to Age of Fire and defeating Savvy Coup."